Window protector



Jan. 6, 1953 G. ZELENKO 2,624,403

wmnow PROTECTOR Filed May 24, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 II II INVENTOR.Gus'rAvE ZELENKO Jan. 6, 1953 i G. ZELENKO ,4

WINDOW PROTECTOR Fild May 24, 1951 V v 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 HHELHHQ'" IINVENTOR. Gus'rAvE 'ZELENKO BYWW Patented Jan. 6, 1953 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE WINDOW PROTECTOR Gustave Zelenko, Long Island City, N. Y.

Application May 24, 1951, Serial No. 227,975

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in windowprotectors.

More specifically, the present invention proposes the construction of anovel window pro-- tector which is always in position on the outer sideof a window to be lowered into position across the outer sides of thewindow sashes to protect the outer faces of the window panes from beingsplashed up and dirtied during rain storms, snow storms and the like.

Another object of the present invention proposes forming the protectorof an elongated heet of flexible material which is secured at one end toa spring urged roller supported across the top of the window frame atthe outer sides of the sashes in a manner so that the protector willalways be in position to be lowered when a storm starts to protect andmaintain the window panes clean.

The present invention further proposes means for securing the lower endof the sheet of flexible material in position in a manner so that itwill not be free to blow around in the high winds which often accompanysuch storms.

A further object of the present invention proposes forming the sheet offlexible material of any desired waterproof material; however, it ispreferred to use one of the clear thermoplastic materials in a manner sothat when the :protector is lowered to its operative position theprotector will not interfere with a view through the window.

Still another object of the present invention proposes the provision ofa means for anchoring the vertical side edges of the sheet of flexiblematerial against the outer sides of the window sashes in a manner toretain those edges from being blown away from the sashes permitting rainand snow to enter at the sides of the protector and dirty the windowpanes.

It is a further object of the present invention to construct a windowprotector which is simple and durable, which is efficient for itsintended purposes and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonablecost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a ma terial part of thisdisclosure:

Fig. l is an outside elevational view of a window provided with aprotector constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating an intermediate step inthe process of lowering the protector to its operative position.

Fig. 3 is another view similar to Fig. 1 showing the protector in itsoperative lowered position.

Fig. 4 is a perspective p r se.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged partial longitudinal sectional view taken on theline 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged partial longitudinal sectional view taken on theline E- 6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but illustrating the windowprotector constructed in accordance with a modification of the presentinvention.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged partial vertical sectional view taken on the line8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the protector constructed in accordancewith the modification of the invention as it appears before beingmounted on the roller.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged partial transverse sectional view taken on theline |0-| 0 of Fig. 9.

The window protector, according to the first form of the inventionillustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, is shown applied to a window of the doublehung type having a frame 20 slidably supporting an outer or upper sash2| and a lower or inner sash 22. The sashes 2| and 22 have the usualtransparent panes 23 of glass or similar material. Further details ofthe construction of the window will not be given in this specificationas they form no part of the present invention and are generally known tothose skilled in the art.

The protector includes a spring urged roller 25 of a type similar tothat commonly used in the window shade art and which is mounted acrossthe frame 20 at the top thereof and at the outer sides of the sashes 2|and 22. Internally, the roller 25 has the usual coil spring 25, see Fig.6, which is loaded when the roller is turned in one direction to turnthe roller in the reverse direction when the roller is again released.At its ends, the roller 25 is provided with the usual window shape typetrunnions 27 received in brackets 28 secured in position on oppositesides of the window frame 20 to rotatively support the roller.

Secured at one end to the roller 25, there is an elongated sheet offlexible material 29. The sheet of flexible material 29 can be formed ofany waterproof material such as oiled silk, oil cloth or the like;however, it is preferred to form the sheet of flexible material of oneof the transparent thermoplastic materials so as not to interfere withthe view through the panes 23 of the window sashes 2| and 22. Suitableclear thermoplastic materials that can be used for the sheet of flexiblematerial are Vinylite (oopolymer of view of the protector,

3 vinyl acetate and vinyl chloride), Lucite (polymerized methylmethacrylate), Celluloid (cellulose nitrate product) and poly-strene(polymer of styrene).

The sheet of flexible material 29, at its end secured to theroller 25,is reinforced by a length of cloth materialj3ilxsecured in position by alayer of adhesive 3|, see Fig. 6, having an aifinity for the clothmaterial 30 and the sheet of flexible material 29. Staples 32 are passedthrough the length of cloth material 39, the end of the sheet offlexible material 29 and into the roller 25 securing the end of thesheet of flexible material 29 to the roller 25.

Means is provided for stiifening the otherend.

of the sheet of flexible material 29. That stiifening means ischaracterized by a rod 33 of wood or thelike which is extended through atunneltd formed along the'otherjend of' the sheet of flexible material29. The tunnel '34 is formed by doubling the end of the sheet offlexible-material 29 over and heat sealing it in position, by the tion,shown in Fig.- 1, the freeend of thecord 35 depends alongthe outersidesof-the sashes 2i and 22.

Screwed into the bottom portion-of the outerface of the lower or innersash-22,-there is an eye: let 3'! to which the cord 36 is to be tijedtomaintain the sheetof flexible-material-ZQ-in the low-- eredoperativeposition, shownin'Fig,

Th manner of using the window-protector isas follows During clearsunshiny weather,-the protector is inthe'raised inoperative positionshown in Fig 1 with-the cord-depending as shown in that flg ure.Atthe-startof a rain or snow-storm, the

lower or innersa'sh-ZZ-is raised slightly as shown in Fig; 2 so thatone-canreach out and take hold of the depended end ofthe-cord 36. Thecord 35*- is pulled-down and the free" end laced through the eyelet 31-with' downward pulling being continued untilthetunnelend of-the sheet offlexible material 29 strikes theeyelet 3?. The cord isthen knotted tothe eyelet 31 anchoring the other end of thesheet offlexible-material tothe lower or inner sash 22. The lower or inner -sash22 ispushed-down toits fully closed position shown-in Fig. 3 to pull downwardon'the sheetof flexible material 29"so that it covers the entire outer surfaces ofthe panes'23 of the sashes 2| and 22.

The protector is left in the lowered position throughout the stormsothatno rain or snow can splash against" thepanes 23 and mix withdirt anddust in the air to dirty the outer facesof the panes. When'the sheet offlexible material 29 was being lowered, the roller 25- was being 7turned in a direction to load-its spring 2e sothat at the conclusion ofthe storm, the protector can be returnedto its starting position byreversing the procedure for lowering the protector. When the sheet-offlexible material 29 is being returned toits starting position, thetension in the spring 26 will function torewind the sheet of transparentmaterial into'position on the roller 25.

The protector constructed in accordance with" the modification of theinvention shown in Figs. 7 to 10 is similar to that previouslydescribed, except for the provision of a means for reinforcing thevertical side edges of the sheet of flexible material 2?). Thereinforcing means serves to keep the. vertical side edges 0f thelsheetof flexible material 29?- frombeing blown away from the outer faces ofthe window sashes 2| and 22 so that rain and snow cannot be blown inabout those vertical side edges to splash and dirty the window-panes 23.

The, reinforcing means comprises elongated strips of material lfl whichare extended verticallyalongitheputer face of the sheet of flexiblemateriall29' at the vertical side edges thereof. The strips'of material40. are preferably formed of the same material as that used for thesheet of flexible material 29, but-01 a slightly heavier gauge. The topends of the'stripsofmaterial I40 are anchored beneath thelengthLofcloth' material 3d w-hich reinforces the top edge of the sheetof flexiblematerial 2$)? 'where itis SEclll'Gdl to theroller 25.-

Secured-to-the' outer'face of the sheet of flexi b1e-material'29; thereare vertically spaced aligned loop members 4 l througlilwhich the freeends of the-strips ofmate'ria'l diifareslidably passed. The loop membersl!- areiormedofthe same material that is usedfforforming the sheetofflexible material 23 andarehe'atsealed td the sheet of-flexiblematerial-as shown in Fig; 10:.

Referring to Fig. 9, -it-'wil1 be apparent that the 1 strips of materialid-are longer than the sheet of flexible-material 29"; so that the free'ends of the strips of material 46 project beyond the'othei end of thesheet of flexible material 29. When the proteotoris in the loweredoperativeposition 'shown in Fig.- 7; the free ends'of the strips ofmaterial 383 arepassed beneath the bottom -edge of the lower or innersash' 22 andtied to-eyelets 52, see Fig. 8; screwed into thewindow sill'ii' fat the inner side-ofth'e window frame 29. The outer edge of thewindow sash 43' is preferably formed-with notches I 45; seeFig. 8,providing clearance for the strips of inaterial 53 so that they will notbe pinched between theadjacent faces of the sill i3 and th'elower orinner sash 22- in the lowered positionof that sash.-

In all other respects, the form of the invention shown in-lh'gs. 7 to 10is similar to that illus trated in Figs. 1 to6 and like referencenumerals are used for similar parts throughout'the severalviews. 7

While the drawings of this applicationillustrate the protector asbeingapplied to windows of-thedouble hung type, that is by way ofillustration only. The window protectors can be adapted'to other typesof windows without-departing from the scope and intent of thepresentinventionz- The additionxjto its primary dunotionzof keeping. the

panes of the sashes clean;

It is to be understood that this arrangement. will be helpful in anefiort to prevent-thedimmin'g' of windows produced bymoisture and-italso acts as a storm shield for windows;

While I have illustratedanddescribed the preferred embodiments of my.invention, itis to be:

understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructionshereindisclosed and .the right is reserved to all'changes and modificationscoming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appendedclaim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

A window protector comprising an elongated sheet of flexible materialfor attachment at one end to a spring roller mounted between the sidesof a window frame at the outer sides of the sashes thereof to be woundon the roller, a cord extending from the other end of said sheet ofmaterial for unwinding said sheet of material to extend it downwardacross the sashes thereby covering the outer sides thereof, means foranchoring said cord to hold said sheet of flexible material in positionacross the outer sides of the sashes, and means for reinforcing thevertical side edges of said sheet of flexible material in the loweredposition thereof, said reinforcing means comprising strips of materialextended along the outer face of the sheet of flexible material alongthe vertical side edges thereof, vertically spaced loops mounted alongthe vertical side edges of said sheet of material through which saidstrips of material are slidably passed, means securing the top ends ofsaid strips of material to the one end of said sheet of flexiblematerial, said strips of material being longer than said sheet offlexible material having their bottom ends extend beyond the other endof the sheet of flexible material and bein passed about the bottom edgeof the lower of the sashes and being anchored to the window frame.

GUSTAV'E ZELENKO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,807,161 Loven May 26, 1931 1,91,232 Large May 30, 1933 2,096,897 Herrmann Oct. 26, 1937 2,386,986Shirley Oct. 16,1945 2,547,373 Camp Apr. 3,1951

